Description
Kingsway Boxing Family Rebuilding Stronger Together
For over 20 years, Kingsway Boxing Club has been a pillar of The Kingsway community — a family-owned business led by Jennifer Huggins and Virgil Barrow. From its roots as a local gym to its role on the international Olympic boxing stage, Kingsway Boxing has always been more than just a place to train. The club is home to hundreds of athletes, from children stepping into the ring for the first time to national champions preparing for international competition. It has hosted national sport training camps, built programming that supports youth and families, and created opportunities for all levels of the community to come together. Through its Fight To End Cancer initiative, Kingsway Boxing has also raised over $4 million in support of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, alongside countless hours of free programming, mentorship, and outreach.
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The Summer Boxing Camp included an array of training and special guests utilizing their strength studio, Fire & Ice Studio and boxing facilities. [Photo Credit: Rebecca Freeman]
That is why the fire in mid-August was so devastating. The state-of-the-art facility — only just built in January of this year as the new home for the club — was fully engulfed in flames, leaving behind heavy damage to what had become both a hub for the local boxing community and a national centre for training and development. In an instant, a home built over decades of effort, sacrifice, and support was torn apart.
Yet in the face of this tragedy, the Kingsway Boxing Family has shown what resilience truly looks like. In the wake of tremendous challenge, the community has come together with strength and compassion, proving that what was lost in structure has been more than made up for in spirit.
Thanks to the incredible hands-on support of athletes, parents, coaches, neighbours, and local businesses, the gym has never felt stronger. Together, the community is not just rebuilding, but rebuilding better — carrying forward the values of generosity, perseverance, and service that define Kingsway Boxing.
The progress since the fire has been nothing short of inspiring. Thanks to the generosity of countless individuals, families, and businesses, many of the gym’s walls are already back up and the rebuild is moving forward at lightning speed. From donations of materials and equipment to the countless hours of time and expertise offered, every contribution has played a vital role in helping preserve the heart of the gym during this transition. Even the smallest details, like storage bins, have made a big difference in keeping the process organized and allowing Kingsway Boxing to push ahead.
Rebuilding our facility comes with significant costs, and unfortunately, these far exceed what insurance will cover. We’re working hard to raise the additional funds needed to complete the repairs and restore our gym fully. That’s where this KBC Rebuild Fundraising Page comes in. Every donation, no matter the size, goes directly toward rebuilding our home and ensuring we can continue to provide a safe, supportive, and inspiring space for all of our members.
“This isn’t just about bricks and walls — it’s about ensuring our community continues to have a safe, supportive home to grow stronger together. Every contribution fuels not only the rebuild of our gym but also the values of resilience, generosity, and unity that define Kingsway Boxing.” ~ Jennifer Huggins
Despite the devastation, Kingsway Boxing’s operations have hardly missed a beat. Classes resumed at the Norseman location almost immediately, and the energy inside the gym has been electric. A temporary weight area has been set up to keep athletes training without interruption, while work continues on rebuilding the front half of the gym. With the unwavering support of the community, the goal is to see new and improved spaces ready within weeks — an ambitious target made possible only by the collective determination of the KBC Family.
There is still a road ahead. Kingsway Boxing continues to call on the strength of its community through its upcoming Rebuild Fundraising Auction and by welcoming volunteers at the Taste of The Kingsway festival, where boxing lessons and demos will keep the club connected and thriving.
Every effort, every donation, and every show of support brings Kingsway Boxing closer to rising stronger than ever — and ensures that this home for athletes and community members alike will continue to thrive for generations to come.
As a special thank you, everyone who contributes to this fund will be automatically entered into our KBC Fundraising Raffle, with exciting prizes donated by our incredible community of supporters.
We also continue to collect items and services that will be featured in our upcoming KBC Rebuild Fundraising Auction, with all proceeds directly supporting the rebuild.
Your trust and patience mean the world to us as we navigate this journey together. With your help, we’re confident that Kingsway Boxing will come back stronger than ever.
To follow along with the journey, please check out our community update page and join our KBC Communication Group.
